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Well…..this
was better…..not great….but definitely better than what County laid before us
on Saturday!

It would not
be County of course if there wasn’t a roller coaster ride in store for County
fans who travelled in prodigious numbers to Bower Fold, and this one went to
the death as many have done before.

With Charlie
Russell lining up for the blues, and fully justifying his inclusion, County, enlivened
also by the energy brought to the field of play by Delial Brewster, gave an
encouraging showing for the most part.

Welcome return for Charlie Russell !

They defended well, and resisted some
blatant provocation from Celtic who, particularly in the first half, constantly
looked to get County reduced in numbers ( when in fact they weren`t kicking
lumps out of them or having elbow to face contact as Chippendale had on
O’Hanlonwithout sanctions at one
point).

But……..having
done the hard part…..and snatched a goal via Jonny Margetts that looked to have
sealed 3 points for them, County then unfortunately wilted under a plethora of
late throws and free kicks, one of which, deep into added time, went in off
Odejayione of County’s second half
substitutes.

Jonny Margetts- notched another one.

Ricky Wooton
the referee, seemed to get the game off to an early start ,and this looked to
be suiting the home side who had County penned back in their last third for
much of the opening minutes, as Oliver Crowley hurled long throw after long
throw into their midst.

Early play, Montrose, Russell & Margetts to the fore( below)

Three
minutes in….and we got a hint of something encouraging from County though, and
it came via the second of two County clearances. Ledsham had just produced one
such to dismiss a Crowley offering, when another pinged over which Montrose dealt
with splendidly, sending Baggie scurrying clear. In response….Celtic were all
over the place…..and Baggie did just the right thing….slipping a neat pass
inside to Brewster who, by this time, was in `head down go for it’ mode in
front of goal. He did well controlling
the ball to perfection, but when his shot came in Tony McMillan trumped it with
the type of save ,I remember seeing him pull off time after frustrating time
against us!

We should
maybe have been one up …against a lesser keeper….we would have been for sure ,
in my opinion, but we had no time to ponder this thought as Crowley was busy
heaving long throws in Arestidou’s direction , one of which resulted in Bohan
Dixon bouncing a header off the top of the bar.

After 12
minutes a casual observer would ,I think, be moved to say that Celtic were
doing the greater part of the attacking, but this same person might , by minute
13, be tempted to conclude that the sharper and more lethal looking work was
coming from a somewhat rejuvenated County side. Baggie was playing a big part
in this, but it was Charlie Russell who was the instigator of what was another
real chance. Charlie’s insightful ball behind the defence, had Brewster heading
off for goal at speed. He had company but did rather well to shrug this off
long enough to get his shot off. It was another good effort and required a save
of quality to see it off, and that’s just what McMillan produced at his near
post, to keep his side afloat!

McMillan awaits as Brewster makes it into the box !

Twice after
this…..Baggie shredded the cover on the right side of the Celtic defence, and
both times he provided ammunition for Brewster in the shape of decent passes,
turning John Shaw inside out at one point.Responding….the young Evertonian managed to again get shots off….his
first being charged down by one of a line of defenders….his second( a leggy
drive) just went wide with McMillan rooted to the spot.

Brewster goes close.

This was
building up to something promising, and things went on in the samevein as Charlie Russell appeared in the box
and was unlucky to see a poachers effort just kept out on the line. A corner
followed soon after this as a second effort from Charlie was deflected round
the post, from a Baggie pass. That was excellent work, and more followed from
Ledsham when the kick came over, but we winced in anguish to see his header
thud into the bar and fly clear!

The woodwork denies Ledsham !

County were
clearly building up a head of steam now and looking likely to score at any
time, and Celtic were looking ever more at sea in response, so ……sadly….the
home side’s play degenerated further into a series of crude tackles and
provocativeincitements, one of which
Aaron Chalmers had lined up to dish Garvin. Chalmers did his best to provoke
the County man to some form of excess, which he thankfully neglected to oblige
him with. WW3 threatened briefly however in front of the sparsely populated
main ( home) stand, but a yellow for the two main participants brought some
semblance of peace.

WW3 averted.........

We were past
the half hour in no time, and I was convinced we had a penalty as Brewster was
bundled over in the box by Shaw. No penalty accrued to County however, and
Brewsters’ angst increased when Crowley was positioned perfectly to intervene
and thus rob him as he prepared another strike on goal.

I was
getting fed up at this point as …in quick succession Russell and Garvin were
felled by Matty Hughes, who amazingly was not booked. County did get a free
kick for their considerable pains, Montrose forcing Wylie to hurriedly head the
ball behind for a corner when something altogether more awful beckoned.
Brewster again went close from the resultant flag kick, but it stayed 0-0, and
I was probably not alone in wondering if Celtic might snatch one and dish us
despite our dominance!

County apply pressure

The pressure
continued from County though, and the usually unflappable McMillan was
momentarily in difficulties as Brewster terrorised him at the edge of the box.
A foul on Montrose, from Hughes, teed a prime site free kick up next for
County, which Garvin thrashed towards goal where McMillan twisted in mid air to
somehow keep it out. That was an excellent save, the corner gave him an easier
one, O’Hanlon’s header causing him no great issues.

Two from McMillan.

Russell’s
eye for a pass came to the fore again with the break not far away, and Hughes
did well to deny Ledsham space to shoot, on the end of it.

Into added
time, and for a while County seemed to go off the boil…allowing Farrell , who
had done pretty much nothing up until that point, room to make a run. The
absence of a challenge allowed him to make ground, and although no shot came
from him, County managed to concede a free kick in an excellent position, which
wasn’t great defending. It looked somewhat iffy as Mudimu lined up the kick,
but he made a total wakes of it drilling it over the bar to hoots of derisive
laughter from the away support.

The half
ended with Russell latching onto the ball before slinging the sweetest of balls
into the path of Margetts, who was set fair to high tail it for goal
unchallenged. He was on side too….so …..jobs a good ‘un…except it wasn’t as the
referee blew for half time the moment Margetts put foot to ball……bugger!!

2 Views of around 2/3rds of Countys following.

The second
half opened as the first had…with Celtic getting forward, but after Dixon had
sent a shot scurrying a yard or so wide, County got to grips again, Brewster
providing much energy…and O’Hanlon a strike on goal, but this flew up and over
the bar to keep it at 0-0, which many a sage observer was heard to state just
might turn out to be the final result!

Dixons effort.

For sure
…some of the edge had ( thankfully) gone from the game, which I was thinking
would aid County, but it also did nothing for the excitement factor, as throws
and needlessly conceded free kicks abounded for both sides.

Also in
keeping with the action in the first 45…..County continued to show the sharper
cutting edge( albeit minus that all important goal), and more excellent work
from Baggie had our hosts in a real tizz…..Baggie’s pass reaching Ledsham ,
who….for the second time in the game clattered the woodwork with McMillan and
company helpless spectators.

Busy Baggie !

Shortly
after this Baggie was replaced by Evans, and for a time County put men behind
the ball as Celtic, who had made two changes themselves, inched forward. Dixon
showed willing with a leggy run, but this was cut short by a timely cooperation
twixt O’Hanlon and Ledsham.

O'Hanlon in the thick.....( with Montrose below...)

It was
Russell and O’Hanlon who combined next to halt a home attack, sending Brewster
on a run that threatened to embarrass McMillan. The keeper managed to bundle
the ball out for a throw, and from this Brewster headed over the top, so again
it stayed 0-0, and just cried out for someone….anyone….to spoil McMillan’s
afternoon!

They had
barely 15 minutes in which to do this, meanwhile Dixon was bent on causing us
trouble, which thankfully O’Hanlon dealt with, with his usual aplomb.

It was at
this point that Chippendale smacked his elbow deliberately into O’Hanlon’s
face…..it was a shocker…and right under the referees nose, and he bottled it
showing the perpetrator a yellow which was shamefully ridiculous!

Just to add
insult to any injury…..Dixon then won himself the softest of free kicks in a
rather tasty position shortly after .And…….with County’s back line under the
cosh a tad…..the ball did end up in the County net. The liners flag had been up
for some time however, and the goal was ruled out for offside!

County under pressure.

Lucky?.....maybe……maybe
not……but Celtic then did their level best to seek immediate redress, only to
find County’s defensive resolve restored , and the way to goal blocked. There
was more as well….as County initiated a break from which Margetts got the away
fans roaring with a shot that went in via McMillan’s right hand post!

Great
stuff……around 5 minutes left and one up…….fantastic!

County even
tried to build on the lead….Ledsham seeing a shot climb over the bar……Brewster
( unluckily in my view) flagged offside when played clear….but….with time
running out….tension began to rise…aided and abetted by a series of free kicks
the home team were awarded.

Brewster was
brilliantly blocked by Burns on a late break, but we went into added time still
one up with Odejayi on for goal scorer Margetts.

Late action......

It was
excruciating stuff….. and the inevitable finally happened as……. from one kick
the ball ballooned up into the air coming down almost precisely on the goal
line where it went in off Odejayi!

Have I said
bugger yet? Bugger!!!!!!!!!

The rest of
what little time remained was spent fending off throws from you know who… County
kept all of these out, but the disappointment was palpable at the final
whistle…such scant reward for so much effort!

Off to
Harrogate then on Saturday ,weather permitted of course. The Flyer leaves the
Finger at 11.30 at a cost of£14( £10 under 16) so what’s not to like? Ring Lou
on 07896 536757 to book.

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